9 Apr (NucNet): Uzbekistan has begun the process to select a site for a nuclear power plant and aims to grant a site licence in September 2020, local officials have confirmed, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The agency gave no further details of the site selection, but said Uzbekistan is the latest among about 30 countries that are considering, planning or working to include nuclear power in their energy mix.
In February Uzbekistan said the proposed site was the Forish district in the region of Jizzakh, southwest of the capital Tashkent.
During a visit to the site president Shavkat Mirziyoyev said he wanted to see the first nuclear unit in operation in “eight to nine years”.
In September 2018 Russia and Uzbekistan signed a preliminary agreement to cooperate on the construction of a nuclear power station in Uzbekistan.
Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom said it would build two Generation III+ VVER 1,200-MW plants with the first unit to begin commercial operation by 2028.
